The South western news., 1887-11-23

lects, it is the greatest social curse
upon morality, religion and happiQ
ness. II there is any evil of social
nature, upon earth, which, essen
tally, requires prohibitory legisla-
ton above another, it is the social
evil of the bar room.
There may be exceptions to the
propositions | have laid down; but
all | have said is true of the char
acteristie bar room, and of the
Characteristic rum.seller, and of
Characteristic association. Police
regulations, legal restrictions and
modern sentiment, in many places,
have modified the accursed evil:
but the nature of the institutions
aud their associations are all the
same. Give the tiger, blind or
seeing, chance, and he will show
bis teeth. Rub his paw backward,
and he will display his claws. Just
Give the bar room a chance, any,
where and by whomsoever run,
and all the evils / have portrayed
will characterize it, sooner or later;
and there is not a bar room in
America, however kept or regula-
ted, that does not produce evil
not one that does a particle of good.
A tiger Gagged is a tiger still; and
however tanned, he is an animal
which no one would turn loose
upon the community. / don't
believe in the Gagged tiger, except
for show; and not even then, if he
must put his paw through the bars.
What an appropriate name is "TI.
GER'-given by common usage
and consent to the bar room bus,
mess? Tiger,l
have but incidentally touched
the widespread effects OF the bar
room upon society. upon the
home, upon the church, upon the
morals, upon the happiness and
prosperity Of individuals, upon
politics and business'generaly. This
would be a theme for volumes; and
It's discussion is so familiar that
every one is acquainted with it.
The whiskey ring. black as Ere.
bus and encirc!in the world. does
The biggest business upon earth;
end its consequences iu evil, mul.
tiiadinous and multitorm, absorb
7al swallow up all other evils in
proportion. Billions of money are
squanlered in the drink bill and
insc-tment Of this country; and
millions of men, women and chil>
dren suffer in every conceivable
way by the liquor traffic. 1t is
he!l's biggest business; and all
heaven stands aghast at it. The
The reformer is at work, however;
and robla men and women
re battling at the polls,
in the legislature, in the
Dulpi in the press, on the stump
and upon their knees with God.
The high tide of revolution is roll
ing up on the beach of this centu-
ry. Civilization is triumphing
over darkness; and the victory of
Prohibition will come.
| have said nothing ofthat small
and decreasing clement of men,
honest in the mistaken convictions
about liberty" and "manhood"- :
opposition to ''sumptuary legisla-
ton which vexes the citizens" and
the like. This is threadbare so.
phistry in the face of a stupendots
evil; and it is time thrown away to
combat this platitudinous old chest.
nut. However, | want to say that
respect the honest convictions of
good men, though their arguments
would land them in the lunatic asy,
lum. Every error has had its honest
and able defenders-even to poly
glmy, slavery, anarchy, commun,
ism and the like; and so whiskey
finds a few advocates OF the same
order. | can only say of such, at
last, honor their honesty and ac,
knowledge their ability; but I must
say, from my standpoint, that their
ability and honor are worthy of &
better cause. Alas alas /!
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